Founded in 1931 with the mission to preserve and present the progression of art from the U.S., the Whitney became the first museum to dedicate its space solely to the works of living American artists. Today, it houses the most comprehensive collection of 20th-century and contemporary American art in the nation. Aside from its permanent collection of 18,000 pieces, the Biennial is the museum’s signature exhibition that focuses on works of lesser-known living artists.